Making the SEPC Southern Exposure conference as COVID-safe as possible

Produce industry show organizers had tough decisions the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was so uncertain what was necessary to maintain health and safety.

In a way, that uncertainty has returned to what might be the other end, as more and more people receive vaccinations and quarantine restrictions lift.

People need people, and that’s especially true in the produce industry. And yet, no show organizer wants to indirectly cause a spike in infections, severe cases or death.

It’s difficult to balance those two truths.

“We’re working hard to try to bring people together, but we want people to be healthy; there’s no question about it,” said David Sherrod, Southeast Produce Council president and CEO.

The council will follow all the guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization for the SEPC Southern Exposure: The Rise of Produce trade show and conference April 6-8 in Orlando, Fla.

The show’s location at the Swan and Dolphin Resort is the same place that ran the NBA bubble, making accommodations for the NBA players and their families during basketball season.

“They created that sanitized environment to enable them to have safe games,” Sherrod said.

“We are taking advantage of their ability to do that and get that same treatment, so we can provide a feeling of safety. We’re doing as much as we can with their protocols and adding some of our own.”

Health and safety measures include:

• One-way aisles and modified floor plans for distancing on the trade show floor;
• Enforced mask requirements, with masks provided for those without one;
• Physical barriers at registration counters and at most food and drink displays;
• Sanitizing stations throughout the show;
• Temperature screenings at registration and session entrances;
• Possible COVID-19 clinic with vaccinations, depending on supplies;
• Gala dinner instead of dance, with six seats at 10-seater tables;
• Four ballrooms with walls removed instead of two for education sessions; and
• Three-fourths of the session space arranged for 6-foot distancing.

About 30 exhibitor companies still under travel ban restrictions are going to do the hybrid piece, Sherrod said.

But someone at the physical show can walk by their physical booths and find a QR code they can snap with their phone, which will lead them straight into the company’s hybrid booth for a webcam chat.

“We just want to bring this industry back together, and we’ll do it any way we can. There are so many people who want to see each other,” Sherrod said.

“We’re a bunch of huggers and hand-shakers, but we’ll do it a little differently this year because we don’t want anything to happen to anyone.”

Organizers bumped up security at the doors and will remind attendees to wear a mask in public.

If attendees step outside, they can take their masks off if they feel comfortable doing so, Sherrod said. But indoors, the mask rules will be enforced, backed up by signage of Yoda and Darth Vader saying the same.

“We want everyone to be responsible,” Sherrod said. “Even if you don’t believe in it, know that someone else does, and be courteous. That’s all we’re asking  you to do.”

How these attendees feel about attending the show in person, health and safety-wise:

Rebecca Scott, grower accounting and marketing director at Nash Produce, Nashville, N.C.

“We feel that the SEPC team is taking all necessary precautions to make sure visitors and exhibitors alike remain as safe and healthy as possible during this time. With precautions such as handwashing stations set up around the expo floor, generous spacing between booths and seating, cleaning schedules with expo staff, and members wearing masks, we do not feel like the SEPC could proactively do anything more to keep everyone healthy at the event.

“Having a hybrid option was a great step in making sure those who were not comfortable with participating in-person at this year’s show are still able to actively participate.”

Dan Davis, director of development for Starr Ranch Growers, Wenatchee, Wash.

“For us, it’s limiting attendance to just the two of us, and we’ll do a slight quarantining from other employees in advance and when we get back, to protect everyone at home from whatever we encounter there. We’ll be compliant with masks, and it feels it’s being as protective as possible with front-end and back-end work.

“I’ve been on a couple flights this year, nothing remotely like the travel I normally do. Flights are still a very sanitized process. It’s very interesting watching people eye the filling seats; Alaska is our primary carrier in the Northwest, and they’re still blocking out seats. Wearing a mask the whole time is not fun, but certainly necessary.”

Jordan Feek, director of marketing at DLF International, Fort Pierce, Fla.

“Luckily, we’re not too far from the venue so no air travel is involved. We will follow show protocol and will be wearing masks at the show.”

Kevin Donovan, national sales manager at Phillips Mushroom Farms, Kennett Square, Pa.

“I think this time, I’ll take some time and drive. Usually, our new director of business development comes with me, but he’s not vaccinated. I am. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be attending.

“I know a lot of companies aren’t traveling, so if they’re there, that’s great. It’s a great organization, and I know they’re doing everything they can. Whatever they can bring, that will be icing on the cake.”